WeRide and Uber Launch Commercial Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhabi

On February 12, WeRide and Uber officially launched commercial robotaxi services in downtown Abu Dhabi—the first deployment of autonomous vehicles in the region. The service currently covers approximately 70% of Abu Dhabi’s core areas, including Khalifa City, Masdar City, Corniche Road, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, as well as the highway segment connecting to Zayed International Airport. Passengers can hail WeRide’s GXR vehicles via the Uber app by selecting the “Autonomous” category or choosing Uber Comfort/X. Each vehicle is currently accompanied by a safety operator, with plans to gradually transition to fully driverless operations. Local transportation company Tawasul Transport manages fleet operations. To date, WeRide has deployed over 200 robotaxis across the Middle East and aims to expand its fleet to at least 1,200 vehicles across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh by 2027.